York Knights 14-34 Huddersfield Giants: Match Report

York Knights lost by 34 points to 14 at Huddersfield Giants at the Accu Stadium in the Betfred Super League Rivals Round.

With numerous injuries, coach, Mark Applegarth named a side with a different looking back line and gave Will Roberts a debut in the halves, and it took time for them to settle into the game.

Huddersfield took advantage to build an 18-0 lead with three tries in the opening 15 minutes, which ultimately proved too much for York to overcome.

A slow start to the second half made the task for the depleted side even harder, on what was still a disappointing afternoon for the Knights.

It didn’t take long for Huddersfield to take control and open the scoring. After keeping the ball alive in the face of some missed tackles, Adam Clune picked up a loose pass and saw a way through to put the home side ahead. Tanguy Zenon converted from close to the posts.

Three minutes later, the Giants went in again, this time Niall Evalds shrugged off an attempted tackle to stroll through for a converted try.

It got worse for York, as another error gave the Giants more ball in a good position. As they moved it out wide, space opened up and Zenon went in at the corner. Again, he added the extras.

By now, York were struggling to get any possession, and Huddersfield’s attack was looking good every time it went near the York line.

It was almost half an hour into the game before the Knights started to find their feet. As Will Dagger was taken off for an HIA, York moved upfield. On the last of the set, Will Roberts chipped a loose ball to touch down, only for the video referee to rule out his effort because of a knock on in the build up.

However, York did settle more after that, and when Ata Hingano put a grubber through close to the line, Roberts darted into the space to follow up and get the try on his debut. He couldn’t add the goal.

They scored again on their next attack in the Huddersfield 20 metre zone, when David Nofoaluma weaved his way over after taking a Roberts pass. Again, Roberts’ conversion went wide.

With two minutes to go to half time, back to back drop outs put pressure on the York line. However, a combination of better goal line defence and then a Giants error meant the home side couldn’t capitalise and the Knights went in at the break ten points behind.

It wasn’t a great start to the second half, with more back to back sets on the York line ending with Jacob Gagai forcing his way through close to the line to stretch the Gaints’ lead again. Zenon’s conversion held up in the wind and fell short.

At the other end, York pushed again. First, Justin Sangare was held up before Kieran Buchanan took a lovely pass from Paul McShane, only for the video referee to rule out his effort for an obstruction.

Huddersfield were still causing plenty of problems though, and Gagai again took advantage of some missed tackles to score his second try. Oli Russell took over the kicking duties and added the goal to take the Giants’ lead to 20 points.

As Huddersfield had another spell camped in the York 20 metre zone, Mathieu Cozza was held up, before Tui Lolohea knocked on to end what looked like potentially being more points.

York did manage to score again, when some enterprising play saw Nikau Williams cross at the corner from a looping McShane pass. Roberts landed the conversion from the touchline.

However, this was soon cancelled out, when Zac Woolford intercepted a pass from Paul Vaughan to run in from 20 metres out for a try converted by Russell in what were the final points of the game.

Huddersfield: Evalds, Swift, Gagai, Wrench, Zenon, Lolohea, Clune, King, Woolford, Rogers, O’Donnell, Patolo, Powell

Subs: Milne, Burgess, Cozza, Russell (all used)

18th Player: Billington

Tries: Clune (7), Evalds (10), Zenon (15), Gagai (43, 54), Woolford (69)

Goals: Zenon (3/4), Russell (2/2)

York: Dagger, Galeano, Field, Williams, Nofoaluma, Hingano, Roberts, Vaughan, McShane, Va’a, Dee, Griffin, Cook

Subs: Balmforth, Martin, Sangare, Buchanan (all used)

18th Player: -

Tries: Roberts (28), Nofoaluma (33), Williams (67)

Goals: Roberts (1/3)

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